Knockdown holder for christmas trees and other articles



Feb. 25, 1930. w. A. FINNEGAN 1,748,759

KNOCKDOWN HOLDER FOR CHRISTMAS TREES AND OTHER ARTICLES Filed May 29, 1929 i Patented feb.

wnirnnn A. rmnnenn, or BANGOR; MAINE xnooxnown. HOLDER Eon CHRISTMASTREES nn 'orrmn An'r'rcLEs' Application filed. May 29, 1929. seria l'No, 366,831.

This invention relates to a knock-down holder adapted to be placed on a flat support and provided with a socket in which oneend of an upright standard or member may be inserted, the holder being adapted to support the standard in a position perpendicular to the support, and composed of a plurality of duplicate arms, each so formed that it may be separably interlocked with another arm in such mannerthat,the several arms may be assembled to form a socket and arm portions extending outwardly in different directions therefrom, to afford a'stable' support for an upright member inserted in the lssocket, the arms being separable from each other, so that the holder may be quickly erected for use and knocked age and shipment. I v

'A holder characterized as above stated is disclosed'by my Patent No. 1,7 06,223, dated March 19-, 1929, the arms being entirely of Wood. The object of the present invention is to provide a holder of superior strength, du-

rability and: compactness, by making .the arms entirely of sheet metal. t

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,,- I

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a holder embodying the invention. i

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the holder,

down for storthe outer ends of the arms being broken away. 1

Figures 3' and 4: are perspective views, showing portions of two arms separated from each other. 7 V Figure 5 is an edge view of one of the arms looking toward its lower edge;

'Figure 6is aview similarto a portion of Figure 4, showing a modification.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts inall of the figures.

Each ofthe arms hereinafter described is sides, and are preferably in close contact with. each other elsewhere, so'that the arm is suit.-

ably reinforced and not liable to be easily bent. The side 12 has a transverse slot 15,

into and out of the pocket. 4

On the inner end of each arm is formed an angular tonguecomposed of a shank portion 17, and a laterally projecting Web portion 18, said portions being movable respectively in the guideway, 16jand pocket 15 of another arm, to interlock the arms, as indicated by Figure 2. Each angular'tongue is preferably composed of two members, as shown by Fig-- ures ,2, 3, 4 and '5, although, ifdesired, the tongue may be composed of as shown by Figure 6. w V t The pocket of each arm 1 has" a receiving mouth at its lower portion, formed by the lower edges of the sides 12 and 13,and may have another receiving mouth at its upper portion, formed by cutting away aportion of th neck 14, as indicated at 19, sothat the tongues may enter the pockets and guide ways, either at the lower or the upper edge of the arms.

The arrangement is such that the tongues and pockets of the several arms may be'interlocked, as indicated by Figures 1 and 2, to forma holder adapted tohave an extended bearing on a floor or other horizontal support,

and including a socket 20 perpendicular to p the support, and arm portions projecting outwardly in different directions from the socket. The angular tongues are slidable into and out of the pockets and guideways, so that the holder may be quickly erected and knocked down-and compactlystored.

' When a Christmas tree trunk or other standardto be supported is inserted in the,

socket, anyjtendency of the-standard to be.

inclined from a vertical position, causes the contacting faces of the angular tongues tobind on the sides ofthe pockets 15, and on which is narrower than the lengthof the pocket and constitutes a guideway permitting. movement of the angular tongue next described, on the inner end of another arm, r

a single member,

the edges of the guideways 16,1so that collapse of the erected holder'is prevented, no means for positively connecting the arms with each other being required. 1

The portion of the side 13 of each arm forming a side of the pocket 15, may be pro- ;vided With a transverse stifiening boss 21,, to

prevent inward bending of said portion and accidental closing of the receiving mouth of the socket.

I claim:

1. A knock-down holder of the character stated, "comprising a plurality of duplicate one piece sheet metal arms, each folded to form two sides and aconnecting neck forming a stiffened longitudinal edge of the arm, portions of the sides of each arm being spaced apart to form a pocket between the sides-adjacent the inner end of the arm, one of said portions being provided with a transverse slot forming a guideway communicating with the pocket, the inner end of each arm having an angular tongue formed to enter the pocket and guideway in another arm, the holder formed by assembling the arms including a socket and arm portions projecting outwardly in different directions therefrom, the tongues being tslidable into and out of the pockets and guidewa-ys, so that'the holder may be erected for use and knocked down for storage and shipment.

2. A knock-down holder as specified by claim 1, the neck of each arm being cut away adjacent the inner end of the arm, to form a pocket mouth in the neck communicating vwith said pocket and guideway, so that the tongue of another arm may be inserted in the pocket and guideway and through the neck.

3. A knock-down holder as specified by claim 1, a side portion of each arm opposite the slot being provided with a transverse stiffening boss.

4. A knock-down holder as specified by claim 1, the portions of the sides of each arm at opposite endsot the pocket being in contact with and reinforcing each other.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

W'ILFRED A. FINNEGAN. 

